Did you know that a mirror (yes, a mirror) can be a highly effective tool when teaching your children phonics, reading, and spelling? A hand-held mirror or a mirror on the wall is a game changer!
· Sometimes your tongue is touching behind your teeth (ex. /d/, /n/, /l/).
When teaching your child their consonant sounds, model the sound accurately and point out the positions of your mouth. Then have your child practice pronouncing the sound while looking in the mirror.
Also, it can be worthwhile to teach your child the difference between voiced and unvoiced consonants. If a consonant is voiced, you can feel the vocal chords in the throat vibrate (ex. /v/, /z/, /j/, /d/, /g/). On the other hand, some consonants are unvoiced and you do not feel the vocal chords vibrate (ex. /f/, /s/, /h/, /t/, /k/).
Teaching phonics CAN be fun. So, head to the dollar store and pick up a hand-held mirror. Decorate it with stickers to make it more personal.
